Rip Off Landscaper

slumped

Hi All,

Getting a job done in back garden, gave 2 landscapers exactly the same spec and got two quotes:

1. €12950
2. €5,600

Why would there be such discrepancy?

Did guy number 1 just pick a random figure?

Anyone else have similar experience???

S

magicbastarder

i got quotes for railings recently; the four i got, for a particular style, came in this order:
€1500
€1800
€450
€900

plasto

If possible go with a recommendation.

If not, make sure you see the work he's done previously (not pictures in a portfolio).
If your happy with his work, the price will not always reflect.

You get what you pay for, at the end of the day.

Good luck.:)

magicbastarder

a friend of mine was telling me that her sister had landscapers in last year.
she went to plant some trees a few weeks ago and found her old patio (which the landscapers had been paid to remove) buried under her back garden.

so demand an itemised quote.

squire1

That is why it's always worth getting a few quotes.

One guy might be busy and is only willing to do the work for a premium price, the other guy might be quiet and is will to do it cheap to get the work. One may have insurance and the other dosen't. They may have misunderstood your requirements.

As magic.. said, ask for an itemised quote. Any contractor that is not ripping you off should be more than willing to do this, if not then walk away. With an itemised quote you might find that doing some of the preparation work yourself can save a significant amount of money if you are willing or able to do it.

slumped

Hi

Both are insured, or at least both are claiming to be! The cheaper guy has done work for the local schools and I've seen him around quite a lot so he's obviously out working in the area.

I've decided to call the cheaper guy and ask him to come over so we can finalise the quote and agree on a work schedule. Then I can make the decision.

What I liked about the cheaper guy was that he was a real hands on guy who is doing something he loves. He had great ideas about how to deal with the garden's drainage issues and how to avoid wasting money. (eg leaving existing path as hardcore filling and put patio on top, thus raising the garden up a little)

Will keep you posted!

S

Sonnenblumen

slumped wrote:

Hi All,

Getting a job done in back garden, gave 2 landscapers exactly the same spec and got two quotes:

1. €12950
2. €5,600

Why would there be such discrepancy?

Did guy number 1 just pick a random figure?

Anyone else have similar experience???

S

€5,600 would seem very little for any landscaping work, sounds like its more gardening than landscaping. There are lots of reasons why quotes might vary and such a difference being so low in this instance could probably be easily explained. Why not post details of the quotes (names excluded)?

Price should not be the exclusive factor in selecting the service provider.

paulocon

As far as I'm concerned, it's like everything else in life... you'll get people overcharging for bad work and people undercharging for excellent work..

I'd strongly advise having a look at some work done by each landscaper in the past and maybe having a chat with some clients. Either way, you are speding a few bob on something you hope to have for some time so getting the decision right at this stage can save a lot of heartache and expense down the line..

Wonky Knees

This is not a legal forum. Nor is it a forum for broadcasting your (possibly libelous, we dont know) complaint about a named, specific company.

DeV.

Builderwoman!

Don't see any mention of a named, specific company DeV. It's a forum for discussion and the poster is perfectly entitled to post and ask for opinions/advice!

Creamy Goodness

Builderwoman! wrote:

Don't see any mention of a named, specific company DeV. It's a forum for discussion and the poster is perfectly entitled to post and ask for opinions/advice!

i think the post above you was edited.

Slow Motion

Worked for a mate who has his own Gardening/landscaping business. Itemised quote is the way to go as the same materials can differ in price depending on where he gets them from, also ask for references, a previous customer he has done similar work for and go and have a look / ask the customer. Also as for the work schedule, remember it's going to be weather dependent and not set in stone (pardon the pun )

prospect

fatimamansions wrote:

This is not a legal forum. Nor is it a forum for broadcasting your (possibly libelous, we dont know) complaint about a named, specific company.

DeV.

Is this someone posing as DeVore?

Seriously, 1 post and it is to make a crappy complaint about a legitimate thread?

Sonnenblumen

slumped wrote:

Hi All,

Getting a job done in back garden, gave 2 landscapers exactly the same spec and got two quotes:

1. €12950
2. €5,600

Why would there be such discrepancy?

Did guy number 1 just pick a random figure?

Anyone else have similar experience???

S

next time you're feeling peckish for chips/fries, ring the following:
-Local Chipper
-local Chinese Takeaway and
-Golden Arches.

If you're still unclear try Thornton's on the Green, apart from being very expensive, expect a bollicking if want ketchup.

Builderwoman!

Sonnen, think that you are being unfairly sarcastic to this poster. Beneath the sarcasim you are probably trying to say he/she is not comparing like with like. I know only too well that different companies can come up with different prices for a variety of different reasons...some may include a smaller guy having to hire equipment or labour in because they don't have the equipment or enough labour/expertise available. Yes you do have to weigh up the different quote, check backgrounds, see their work, ensure that you are comparing like with like regarding materials, finish etc. However, I don't think that would answer the question as to why such a discrepancy? The poster still needs to assess that and come back to us.

Sonnenblumen

Builderwoman! wrote:

Sonnen, think that you are being unfairly sarcastic to this poster. Beneath the sarcasim you are probably trying to say he/she is not comparing like with like. I know only too well that different companies can come up with different prices for a variety of different reasons...some may include a smaller guy having to hire equipment or labour in because they don't have the equipment or enough labour/expertise available. Yes you do have to weigh up the different quote, check backgrounds, see their work, ensure that you are comparing like with like regarding materials, finish etc. However, I don't think that would answer the question as to why such a discrepancy? The poster still needs to assess that and come back to us.

True to form you are overjudgemental, and instead of interpreting my points in a reasonable manner you instead opt for your regular cynical and negative interpretation. Its boring and contributes nothing to wider readers your endless cynism and criticism of landscapers etc. There is nothing cynical about my post, in fact I would have thought it was patently obvious as why quotes will/do vary, whether this be modest fries or a service.

I'm surprised the no mods intervene in your endless negative posting.

Most people will recognis that there are many factors above and beyond time and materials which influence price.

Meanwhile can I suggest you park your 'siege mentality' and let others enquire on content or clarification.

Builderwoman!

Sonnenblumen wrote:

True to form you are overjudgemental, and instead of interpreting my points in a reasonable manner you instead opt for your regular cynical and negative interpretation. Its boring and contributes nothing to wider readers your endless cynism and criticism of landscapers etc. There is nothing cynical about my post, in fact I would have thought it was patently obvious as why quotes will/do vary, whether this be modest fries or a service.

I'm surprised the no mods intervene in your endless negative posting.

Most people will recognis that there are many factors above and beyond time and materials which influence price.

Meanwhile can I suggest you park your 'siege mentality' and let others enquire on content or clarification.

Sonnen, I an not helpless, vicitimised or defenceless and I'm certainly not negative. I live in the real world where normal people try to get good work done at a fair price. They achieve this by pricing around and comparing quotes. I think the poster was perfectly correct in questioning the difference between quotes and should indeed take the advice given here to get itemised quotes and ensure that he/she is comparing like with like. You are very defensive of your industry and, if not sarcastic, you were certainly being condescending in your post. People are entitled to discuss, debate and conclude here as it's an open forum.

delly

Folks I feel no need to intervene on negative or defensive posts, however, the OP asked a genuine question and was looking for genuine responses, unless you can post something constructive regarding this issue then maybe you should take your own issues with each other to PM.

Reyman

Sonnenblumen wrote:

next time you're feeling peckish for chips/fries, ring the following:
-Local Chipper
-local Chinese Takeaway and
-Golden Arches.

If you're still unclear try Thornton's on the Green, apart from being very expensive, expect a bollicking if want ketchup.

Delly - In fairness to BW - this kind of post is not helpful to the OP. It's quite unnecessary smartalecery (if that's the right word)

delly

Reyman wrote:

Delly - In fairness to BW - this kind of post is not helpful to the OP. It's quite unnecessary smartalecery (if that's the right word)

No, your right on that front hence my above post. At this stage tho' I don't feel any other action is necessary.

Builderwoman!

Fair point Reyman and indeed Delly.

I've been recently in the same position as slumped and I know who head wrecking it is. My advice would be to get a third or maybe fourth quote...now I know that gardeners and landcapers might not agree...but it gives you a better idea of the middle ground. Also have each of them itemise out the quote. Ask for references. Talk to them all about their methods of doing the various items like beds, lawns, paths etc. We found that by doing so we found out a lot... one guy who was a professional landscaper was cheaper but because he was taking "short cuts" like not putting hardcore down and whacking them solid before putting down pebbles. Other guy was using cheaper edging etc. Ask if they are hiring in machinery or labour...that too will be reflected in price. You need to be comparing apples with apples so to speak. Maybe others can give you better advice but that's my opinion on the same situation a week or ten days ago.